News

ShuffleArt has announced that its vinyl iPod shuffle skins are now available from iPodStyles.com. The skins are available in five designs — Bloody, Green, Monogram, Hawaiian Blue, and Hawaiian Pink — and are priced at $7.99 for a limited time.

“Give your new iPod shuffle a new look in seconds and protect it from abuse at the same time. All skins are repositionable - removable - reusable for a fast, easy and accurate installation and goo-free removal.”

Bruddy Designs is now shipping the ShuffleMate, its all-in-one iPod shuffle accessory that combines the functionality of a case with clips and wire management. Made of clear plastic, the ShuffleMate fits both iPod shuffle models, has a wrap-around base to reduce excess wire, and features a built-in belt clip. The accessory also comes with an industry standard “bull-dog” clip that can be attached to any side of the ShuffleMate via mounting slots. The ShuffleMate is priced at $16.95. Bruddy offers a $3 discount with quantities of two or more.

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today announced the Cool Caps Replacement Caps & Lanyards for the iPod shuffle. The Cool Caps, which replace the standard Apple USB caps, come in a 5-Pack of colored caps, lanyards, and lanyard clips. The lanyard on each of the Cool Caps is adjustable and removable, allowing users to “change the length of the lanyard, mix and match colors from different caps or remove the lanyard altogether and use the caps alone.” The $29.99 Cool Caps 5-Pack includes caps and lanyards in shades of green, blue, white, purple and orange.

LuxPro has introduced a slightly updated version of its iPod shuffle clone, the Super shuffle. Sporting a redesigned control pad and adding two new colors, the “Super Tangent” still remains nearly indistinguishable from the Apple music player.

Like the iPod shuffle and its LuxPro predecessor, the Super Tangent uses flash memory, offers the USB 2.0 connectivity and charging, has backside slider switches, and is available in 512MB and 1GB sizes. The Super Tangent is also the same length, width and weight, but is a tad thicker due to its FM tuner and voice recorder. It works with both Windows and Mac OS X, and offers MP3, WAV, and WMA support.

After the iPod clone was shown earlier this month at the CeBIT conference, Apple lawyers reportedly spoke with LuxPro and got the company to remove the music player from its booth — but only for one day. LuxPro brought it back out on Saturday for weekend visitors. Some have said that the Super shuffle was just a “clever PR maneuver” and was never intended to be released.

Griffin Technology and designer Greg Gutierrez today announced the iVault aluminum case for the iPod shuffle. Gutierrez (aka “Helixipod”), who first showed the case on the iLounge forums, has partnered with Griffin to sell and distribute the case in the US.

“Machined entirely out of aluminum, the iVault safely encloses your iPod shuffle, while still allowing total access to the control wheel, audio jack, on switch, USB port, and LED. The front and back halves of the case are joined together by 4 small screws, so your iPod shuffle is guaranteed to be secure. Lightweight yet strong, the iVault and the iPod shuffle together weigh less than 1.5 ounces.”

The iVault comes in four colors — silver, blue, red and purple — and will ship with a USB cable to sync/charge your iPod shuffle without removing it from the case. The iVault is scheduled to be available in May for $29.99.

The University of Arizona chapters of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and the Alpha Phi sorority have announced the iPose 2005 Modeling Competition. Photos of 10 fraternity and 10 sorority members posing with an iPod shuffle have been posted on the contest’s website, and the public is urged to vote for their favorite models. The winning models will receive a 20GB iPod. The second place male and female models receive an iPod shuffle, and the third places will receive $50 iTunes gift certificate. For every vote cast by visitors to the website, the organizations are each donating 10 cents to the Save the Children Tsunami Relief Fund. Voting closes on April 7 at 8:00 p.m.

PodBuddies has announced a new line of iPod-themed handmade figurines. The first piece in the PodBuddies collection is “PodBoy ver. 1.0,” which is designed to hold and display an iPod shuffle. PodBoy is made of oven-baked polymer clay and will be hand numbered and signed on the bottom by the artist “Ivy.” PodBoy will be limited to 100 pieces and is priced at $15. PodBuddies said their next figurine would be a take on the iPod silhouette commercials.

PodBrix has launched PodShirt, a new online store that will offer products using the Brixwear 1000 magnetic clasp system, which allows you to attach your iPod shuffle to the front of the shirt. The first item the site is selling is the iShirt, a black T-shirt in which your iPod shuffle makes up the “i” in the word iShirt. It sells for $28.99.

PodShirt says that “no modification is needed to your iPod shuffle,” and that you “simply place it over the clasp area of the shirt and it locks into place. The shuffle stays firmly attached even with vigorous activity. A quick pull easily removes it from the shirt”

Apple has kicked of a new iPod shuffle giveaway for college students. “College life is random. We’re giving chance a chance and giving away an iPod shuffle every week through September 30, 2005. The iPod shuffle lets you carry your favorite iTunes and your essential files with you all over campus. So whether you are rockin’ the night away or pulling an all nighter, we want to give your life a random soundtrack.”

Nikkipod.com has announced the availability of its handmade designer cases for the iPod shuffle. The cases are made of water-resistant vinyl and come in seven different materials, including textured gator, ostrich and snakeskin varieties in an assortment of colors. The cases are lanyard compatible, and feature a velcro closure and built-in belt strap. They’re priced at $12 each or two for $20.

Pressure Drop today announced the DecoDock, a stylish new dock designed for Apple’s iPod shuffle. DecoDock, which features illumination with white LEDs, enables users to easily charge/sync their iPod shuffle with their computer.

“Designed in the classic Art Deco style, the DecoDock’s lighted columns tower over a brilliantly colored and graceful arc, enhancing the pleasing simplicity of the iPod shuffle,” says Pressure Drop. “The iPod’s plastic cap can be stored in the back of the DecoDock, a unique feature designed specifically to help prevent it from getting lost.”

DecoDock will be available in April in a variety of colors for $28.99.

PodBrix has announced its first apparel item — the Brixwear 1000 T-shirt for iPod shuffle owners. The T-shirt features an integrated magnetic clasp to hold the tiny music player to the front of the shirt, which features PodBrix’s signature mini figure in the style of Apple’s iPod silhouette ads.

“No modification is needed to your iPod shuffle,” PodBrix says. “Simply place it over the clasp area of the shirt and it locks into place. The shuffle stays firmly attached even with vigorous activity. A quick pull easily removes it from the shirt.”

The Brixwear 1000 is a signed limited edition of 300 units and will go on sale later today (approximately 9:00 p.m. ET) for $28.99. It’s available in medium, large or x-large sizes. Click “Read more” for larger photos.

Los Angeles-based “alterna-pop” band Sexohol today released their debut album, “Enjoy,” on Apple’s iPod shuffle. The “Enjoy” iPod shuffle comes pre-loaded with 12 songs from the band’s album. It’s available in both versions of the device — 512MB ($109) and 1GB ($159). “Enjoy” will be released on CD in late April.

“It’s only a matter of time before other bands use iPod shuffle as a distribution method or promotional item,” said Sexohol co-lead singer and bassist, Golden Delicious. “With our tradition of innovation, we thought it important to be first. And we’ve left plenty of room for songs by other visionary artists like The Beatles, Trent Reznor, or Weird Al.”

AudioOutfitters has announced a new car charger and silicone case for the iPod shuffle. The ezCharge Shuffle comes in white and includes a high quality coiled cable and a fuse-protected car plug. It is priced at $24.98 and will be available in late March.

The ezSkin Shuffle silicone case comes in a 2-pack for $19.98. It offers all-around protection and is available in five colors - Sky Blue, Pink, Onyx Black, and Lime Green. All of the colors come with a Frost White ezSkin.

The shuffletatu is a new product that “combines a durable, high-gloss Mylar covering with colorful designs to provide iPod shuffle owners with a non-permanent way to customize the look of the device, as well as protect it from scuffs and scratches.” The initial release of shuffletatus will feature 33 different designs, including 12 national flags, an assortment of solid colors and stripes, and 10 shuffletatu designs from graphic designer Andres Conde of Digital Assault. The shuffletatus range in price from $2.49 to $3.49 each. Selected three packs and five packs are also available for $6.99 and $9.99, respectively.

London’s Leicester Square subway station has been blanketed with ads for Apple’s iPod shuffle. Media Week reports that the “exclusive iPod zone” will include ads on poster sites, ticket gateways and station arches, and appears to be the first time that a company has done such a campaign at the station in seven years. Photos of the ad-covered station can be found here.

Shuffleshirt.com has announced the Shuffle shirt, a T-shirt specifically designed for the iPod shuffle. The Shuffle shirt features a pocket on the left sleeve to snugly hold the device.

“Why be bound by an armband or leashed by a lanyard? Slip your Shuffle into your Shuffle shirt and shuffle on. With your Shuffle tucked into your Shuffle shirt, it is protected and conveniently within reach without being in the way of your everyday activities.”

The $20 shirts are available in black and yellow. Each Shuffle shirt has a slogan such as “The Playlist is Dead,” “Sorry… I can’t hear you. I’m shuffling.” and “I shuffle, therefore I am.”

After persuading LuxPro to remove its iPod shuffle knock-off from its stand at the CeBIT trade show on Friday, Apple was met with little cooperation on Saturday as the Taiwanese company put the device back on display.

As reported last Thursday, LuxPro’s Super shuffle is nearly indistinguishable from Apple’s iPod shuffle in every way. (See iLounge’s report and photos of the Super shuffle for complete details.)

After news spread of the iPod look-alike last week, Apple lawyers spoke with LuxPro and got the company to remove the device from its CeBIT booth for one day. LuxPro brought the flash-based music player back out on Saturday for weekend visitors.

“Our lawyers are in the process of weighing legal options,” Apple spokesman George Albrecht said.

Marware today announced that its SportGrip iPod shuffle case, which was first shown by iLounge last month, will begin shipping on Monday, March 14. The $8.95 silicon protector is available in a slew of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, plum, pink, white, gray, and black. The SportGrip, which offers access to the control pad and slider switch, has an included attachment ring and carabiner to attach your iPod shuffle to a zipper, belt loop, backpack strap, and other locations.

YS Design is offering two new iPod shuffle cases made form machined aluminum. The Japan-based company has recently released the HardCase Simple and the HardCase G5, which resembles the design of Apple’s Power Mac G5. While there are no apparent plans to offer them in the US or other countries, the $60 cases will begin shipping April. They can be used with a wrist strap, require a female USB cord or adapter, and weigh about 30g. The HardCase Simple can be engraved on the front or back with up to 10 characters for an extra $5. A basic image can be engraved for about $20 more.